I dare say there will be one or two omissions here, but here’s a list of the 10 most followed travel-related Twitter accounts that we’ve been able to find. If you identify others that should have made it into the list, please let us know by posting a comment. The numbers of followers indicated are correct at the time of publishing.
Note: I have omitted @trazzler from the above list. They have a following of almost 500,000 but the vast majority of followers do not have avatars and are new accounts which has me thinking that something fishy and automated is going on.
Alain Ducasse has opened a new cookery school this month… where you are the chef. The Ecole de Cuisine in Paris is about learning, sharing and getting to know the universe of tastes of Alain Ducasse. Everything is mixed in a unique atmosphere in a school created by Pierre–Yves Rochon. Cooking, pastry-making and wine-tasting courses take place in four kitchens – Cèpe, Truffe, Olive and Piment - all equipped by Perene and with advanced Miele facilities. Ducasse has entrusted the keys of his school to Hotel Le Parc Paris executive chef, Romain Corbière.
You’ve probably seen lists of the most unfortunate domains doing the internet rounds before, including anything from Pen Island (PenisLand.net) to Therapist Finder (TheRapistFinder.com) and everything inbetween. But I’d never seen a travel-specific list before. Avoiding the all too easy Cook Islands domains (with the suffix .co.ck), here’s a list of 5 of the most unfortunate travel domains out there:
#5Â A site dedicated to New York state’s canal system… NYcanal.com (NYCanal.com)
#4 A currency conversion site… DollarsExchange.com (DollarSexChange.com)
#3 A site to promote the Lake Tahoe region… GoTahoe.com (GotAHoe.com)
#2Â A camp for children to learn their favourite musical instrument… FiddleKids.com
#1 Sadly no longer in existence, but a Vegas vacation rental site… IHA Vegas.com (IHaveGas.com)Â
While many remain doubtful about the merits of Twitter (I myself was in that camp before I ‘got’ it), one or two travel companies out there are showing how it can be used to great effect. One great example is Hyatt Hotels & Resorts with their @HyattConcierge Twitter account with which they claim to offer 24/7 assistance with any travel questions and requests before, during and after your stay. The approach has garnered positive coverage from USA Today and various industry publications, and ought to prove a big hit with Hyatt’s more tech-savvy customers.
The previously untouched southern Maldives is to get its first boutique luxury resort. Alila Villas Hadahaa will open in the Gaafu Alifu (North Huvadhoo) Atoll in August 2009, an atoll which is rich in history yet unknown to all but the most intrepid divers. It is one of the largest natural atolls in the world and the deepest in the Maldives with a central lagoon plunging about 90 metres down. Despite its size, though, it encompasses only 250 islands over a lagoon area covering 2,800 square kilometres, resulting in the sparsest distribution of individual islands in the country.
The new resort will feature 14 stilted over-the-water Aqua Villas with panoramic views and 36 Island Villas, 20 of which come with a private plunge pool. All villas are designed to enhance the Maldivian experience. It is accessible via a 55 min domestic flight from Male to Kaadedhdhoo Domestic Airport, where you board a 55 foot Luxury Azimut Power yacht for a 1 hour 15 minute cruise to the resort.
A new dining and nightlife concept called LAVO came to the Palazzo Las Vegas in September 2008 and now the restaurant has transformed its culinary offerings to an Italian menu with simple and classic flavors. Here guests make a journey from lounge to restaurant to nightclub; twenty foot ceilings of old wood and low chandeliers crown an area featuring a curved bar and leather seating. The restaurant is highlighted by a spectacular glass and wood screened bridge which leads to an intimate second story nightclub.
Signature highlights in the restaurant now include the likes of Baked Clams Oreganato featuring Littleneck clams with toasted bread crumbs and garlic butter. And LAVO also features a wood burning brick oven, producing some of the best pizzas in Las Vegas. The Lobster Scampi Pizza, for instance, is a delicate balance of roasted lobster, crispy fingerling potatoes, garlic and fresh herbs.
In the lead up to World Environment Day on 5th June 2009, stylish, boutique hotel The Luxe Manor is launching a new Green Package. Until the end of the month, guests will be able to enjoy a special nightly rate in a Superior Room for just HK$1450 with 5% of the Green Package revenue being donated to Greenpeace China. The package also includes two choices of entry tickets. The first one lets the guests ride on the Ngong Ping 360 cable cars with crystal bottoms through which visitors can view the lush, tropical forest below and the expansive South China Sea beyond. At the top, guests can enjoy ‘Walking with Buddha’, ‘Monkey Tale Theatre’ and a guided nature tour. Guests can also opt for tickets to have an aquatic experience in the Ocean Park – home to Hong Kong’s incredible aquarium and with number of amazing Asian animals.
The hotel concierge will also offer guests information on the Green Pass to Hong Kong, an initiative that showcases the best eco-friendly tourist attractions in Hong Kong. Options include: bird watching at Kowloon Park; the Hong Kong Wetlands Park; a ride aboard the last traditional Chinese sailing boat in operation, the Duk Ling; Tai Chi Classes at the hourbour front; a guided tour of the Tang dynasty replicated Nan LIan Garden; or the opportunity to see Chinese Pink Dolphins in their natural habitat.
Copenhagen is a long-standing favourite for Jazz enthusiasts from all over the world. And from the 3rd to the 12th July 2009 there will be the city’s 31st annual Jazz Festival, welcoming hundreds of artists to perform the best of all Jazz genres in the Danish capital. The main event on Saturday 4th July will be the ‘Sing the Truth’ tribute to Nina Simone at the Concert Hall, featuring Dianne Reeves, Angelique Kidjo, Lizz Wright and Nina Simone’s daughter; Simone. The orchestra will be conducted by the legend’s own favourite, Al Schackman. Other highlights include the solo piano concert by Chick Corea on Sunday 5th July at the Royal Danish Theatre and the 25th anniversary celebration of ‘Aura’, created by Danish musician Palle Mikkelborg.
Clubs and small cafes are a vital part of the festival. Performances start all over town in the mornings and continue throughout the day. The most internationally renowned jazz cub in the city is the Copenhagen Jazz House and other great venues are Plaenen in Tivoli Gardens and The Playhouse theatre on the
waterfront. For a full programme and information on tickets visit www.jazzfestival.dk
To mark a number of special Galapagos themed anniversaries, Reef & Rainforest Tours is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join Charles Darwin’s great, great grandson Randal Keynes on a special, exclusive fundraising cruise (in aid of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos Conservation Trust) around the Galapagos. The trip sets sail on 24th October 2009 and is personally hosted by Randal Keynes who is actively involved in the conservation of the Galapagos.
Randal has dedicated a lifetime to studying Darwin and boasts a treasure chest of information and anecdotes about his famous relative; this will form an integral part of this educational and enlightening experience through his on-board lectures and participation in the daily land visits made by the MV Eclipse during her seven-night voyage through the archipelago.
You’ll also be treated to behind-the-scenes access to the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, which will be complemented by other events such as an invitation-only cocktail hosted by Her Majesty the Queen’s Ambassador to Ecuador at the British Embassy residence in Quito, and a private reception and dinner.
From the comfort of MV Eclipse, guests will be able to explore this remarkable island ecosystem which so enthralled Darwin, with dedicated naturalist guides and plenty of opportunities to hike, swim, snorkel, kayak and watch wildlife. With a maximum capacity of 48 passengers this cruise is sure to offer the ultimate intimate Galapagos wildlife experience.
Next time you stumble upon a rum shack on a secluded beach in Jamaica, perhaps you’ll think back to this video. As well as being fun, it does make you wonder about your experiences as a tourist when you travel… are you getting the genuine article or are you being presented with what the locals think you want to see?
The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach recently unveiled its new $100 million plus transformation, with the addition of a lavish 19-treatment room Eau Spa. The renovations also included redesign of all 310 guest rooms and suites, including the two-bedroom Presidential Suite, as well as the restaurants and pool areas.  The all-new Eau Spa offers a contemporary take on spa-going and all-day unwinding with unique and affordable treatments, as well as some over the top treatments, a full-service salon and state-of-the-art Eau Fitness center. Â
If that wasn’t enough, the hotel is also offering the dynamic AquaNuts and Coast programs, designed to entertain youngsters daily, with a beauty salon, DJ booth, theatrical stage, video editing studio, games and more.
Commenting on A Luxury Travel Blog has really taken off this month, thanks no doubt in part to the Hyatt competition that we are running throughout May 2009. Despite my best efforts to tell people that comments such as ‘Thanks for the information’ and ‘Great post’ offer little value to the blog or its readers, however, commenters have still persisted. So, today I’ve taken action! From now on, comments that are just 100 characters or less will not get through.Â
That might seem to some people to be quite a high minimum limit. Afterall, the very short posts would be easily dealt with by a limit of just 15-20 characters. But when I reflected on it, I thought that even those comments that say “I once stayed at this hotel and we had a fab time!!!” are not all that meaningful either. Hopefully, encouraging readers to offer a bit more will be good for the blog overall and will result in more meaningful discussions after each post.
If you agree or disagree, feel free to comment… but remember, it can’t be too short!
Hotel Shangri La’s ocean view restaurant is now open and taking reservations. Concept by Marc Smith of EDISON fame has hired local chef Noah Rosen to create an innovative menu inspired by the famous bi-weekly Santa Monica Farmer’s Market adjacent to the hotel. This is a great location for lunch after the Farmers Market or to dine as you watch the sun set over the Pacific.
One of the world’s best beaches is now home to a luxury resort; opening on 1st June 20009, the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa on Natadola Beach will be the pride of Fiji’s Coral Coast. Spread across 35 acres of tropical gardens, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is the sole destination resort on Natadola Beach – the only stretch of natural, white sand beach on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. Protected by a reef to create an aqua-blue ocean facing lagoon, Natadola Beach was voted by Forbes Magazine in 2008 as one of the 25 best beaches in the world.
Nestled among water features and aromatic gardens, the purpose-built spa provides a haven of relaxation. And for those who’d sooner be active than be pampered, the Natadola Bay par 72, 7,000 yard Golf Course is opening alongside the resort and will be the country’s first international competition standard course.
The Palazzo Las Vegas is bringing the opulence of the French Riviera to the Las Vegas Strip with the opening of AZURE. This is a fresh and exciting pool concept created for the guest who enjoys the finer things in life. Contemporary and stylish decor with lush greenery, plush daybeds, seasonal floral and tranquillity will surround guests while they take pleasure in viewing elegant fashion shows, being pampered by “amenity butlers and butlerettes” and savouring the culinary offerings of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.
The Setai is offering aspiring musicians the opportunity to turn their Grammy dreams into reality by rocking out in the same studio used by Beyonce, Jay Z, Timbaland and Mary J. Blige to record their own music under the professional instruction of Studio Director, Matt Knobel, at the recently opened Recording Studio at The Setai.
Created by the ultimate rocker Lenny Kravitz and Kravitz Design, and located in a two-floor penthouse suite with breathtaking ocean views and a private outdoor patio, the 2,500 square foot studio has been fitted with the latest, state-of-the-art equipment for both analog and digital recording. Kravitz Design has combined the serene Asian tone at The Setai with high concept vintage furniture, plush wool shag carpeting and custom hand-screened wallpaper to create an environment that is elegant, warm and luxurious.
The “Rock Star Package†includes 1 day of studio time in the Recording Studio at The Setai, a one-bedroom suite for 3 nights, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne upon arrival, and transfer to and from Miami airport in a Range Rover.
While many remain doubtful about the merits of 
The previously untouched southern Maldives is to get its first boutique luxury resort. 
Copenhagen is a long-standing favourite for Jazz enthusiasts from all over the world. And from the 3rd to the 12th July 2009 there will be the city’s 
To mark a number of special Galapagos themed anniversaries, 
One of the world’s best beaches is now home to a luxury resort; opening on 1st June 20009, theÂ